An innocent blind man with a white stick has been shot in the back by police with a 50,000-volt Taser after officers mistook it for a samurai sword.

Colin Farmer, 61, was hit following reports of a man walking through Chorley, Lancashire, early on Friday evening, with a sword. He said that he initially thought he was being attacked by hooligans when he was struck by the Taser.

The matter is being investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) after Farmer, who has said he intends to take legal action, made a complaint to the force.

Farmer, who used to run an architects' practice and is a fellow of the Institute of Directors, was on his way to meet friends at 5.45pm and was walking along Peter Street near a restaurant. "I didn't even know the police were there," he said. "I heard this man shouting. I thought they were shouting at some people."

Farmer, who has suffered two strokes, the most recent requiring two months in hospital in March, was fearful he would suffer another stroke.

He said the whole thing was like being "trapped in a nightmare": "I thought I was going to be attacked by hooligans. The next thing they fired a Taser at me, although I didn't know it was a Taser at the time. I just felt a thump in my back. As soon as the Taser hit me, I hit the ground."

He repeatedly attempted to explain to the officer that he was blind, but he knelt on him and dragged his hands behind his back and handcuffed him. Farmer, who has bruises on his hand, said he was "absolutely terrified."

"I walk at a snail's pace, they could have walked past me, driven past me in a van or said: 'Drop your weapon.'"

The matter was referred to the IPCC by the Lancashire force.

Ch Supt Stuart Williams, of Lancashire police, said the force deeply regretted the incident.

Farmer was taken to hospital for treatment and later discharged. Williams said the officers stayed with him in hospital and took him to meet his friends in Chorley at his request.

Williams said police had "received a number of reports that a man was walking through Chorley armed with a samurai sword".

"A description of the offender was circulated to officers and patrols were sent to look for the man," he said. "One of the officers who arrived in Chorley believed he had located the offender. Despite asking the man to stop, he failed to do so and the officer discharged his Taser."

Williams said it "became apparent that this man was not the person we were looking for and officers attended to him straight away", taking him to hospital.

He added that the force has launched an urgent investigation to understand what lessons could be learned.

"We have clearly put this man through a traumatic experience and we are extremely sorry for that," he said. They have remained in contact with the man and his family over the past few days to enquire about his recovery, he added.

A 27-year-old man carrying a samurai sword was later arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly.

There's no way i'm reading all that ERIN !!!

I saw this disgusting story on the News. How the caller to the Police, and the policeman who tasered him thought that his white stick was a Samurai sword beggars belief. The man can hardly walk, how could he be a serious threat to anyone. I hope he gets compensated big time.

Fookin' idiot polis.

It's a bit like a game of ping pong with the Police in the moment. Hillsborough - bad, Little April - good. Plebgate - good, tazer - bad. The inquest into the man who's death started the riots - dubious at best, Saville - bad.

You should. Disgraceful.

I don't think the caller to the police was mistaken, as they later apprehended a guy with a sword. How the policeman was wrong is a bit strange though.

Maybe he was so fixed on the description of the guy that he forgot to check out all other aspects.

Summary for extremely lazy Saint:-

Police get report of someone wandering about with a sword.

Description is circulated.

PC sees man, who presumably fits description and is carrying something long.

PC shouts for him to drop his weapon.

Man in question is carrying white stick, so doesn't realise it's him being shouted at.

PC sees man NOT dropping 'weapon', so tasers him.

After he is immobilised PC realises he's got the wrong person.

Police are very sorry and appologetic.

Police take this man to hospital.

Police are keeping in touch with him and his family.

This man is blind and was only carrying a white stick.

This man has had TWO strokes, the last one fairly recently.

This man though he was about to be mugged and might have another stroke because of the shock and trauma.

Police later apprehended a guy with a Samuri sword.

Colin Farmer was 61 the guy arrested was 27

I know who needs the white stick!

And some people want our Police armed with guns?!! 

Will he resign?

I doubt it Velvet. He'll be moved to another section he'll be given 'More Training' there'll be noises made about 'Lessons being Learned', but in the end there'll be little noticeable difference.

I didn't realise about the age difference, I just assumed that the general description fitted them both!

Must have been a very loose general description then,

It really is Col. All that on the back of the 'unlawful' killings of Jean Charles de Menezes and Ian Tomlinson too. If policing is to remain by consent in this country then the police are going to have to sort themselves, their recruitment, training and procedures out.